Keira Knightley To Star In Film Adaptation Of Nicholas Sparks' 'Safe Haven'?

Keira Knightley is apparently in early talks to star in romantic drama Safe Haven.

The Pirates Of The Caribbean star is considering playing a young woman with a mysterious past, who strikes up various relationships when she arrives in a small town in North Carolina, reported Twitchfilm.com.

Lasse Hallstrom, who is currently finishing up his Swedish crime thriller The Hypnotist, would direct the big-screen adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' novel of the same name. It would be his second work with a Sparks book, following 2010's Dear John with Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried.

Filming is expected to begin in May, with a release date set for February 2013.

Keira, who was last seen in A Dangerous Method opposite Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen, next shares screen time alongside Steve Carell in apocalyptic romantic comedy Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World, before starring as Anna Karenina in Joe Wright's period piece.